1-31. (canceled)
32. Capsule, comprising:
a deformable andor crushable casing provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be joined to a fluid for making a final product, wherein said casing comprises an edge and said side wall comprises preset pliability lines along which said side wall is deformable andor crushable;
a covering element fixed to said edge to hermetically close said cavity;
a nozzle comprising a longitudinal side wall and a first end fixed to said covering element and provided with a first opening suitable to engage an injecting arrangement of said fluid of a brewing machine, said longitudinal side wall being provided with at least one outflow opening connected to said first opening through a first duct for introducing said fluid in said cavity in an injecting step;
wherein
said nozzle is arranged inside said cavity, comprises at least one delivering opening made along said longitudinal side wall and a second end that is opposite to said first end, comes out partially from said cavity through an exit opening of said base wall and is provided with a second opening connected to said delivering opening through a second duct,
said delivering opening and said second duct enabling said final product to exit from said cavity through said second opening and be delivered directly into a fruition container in a delivering step.
33. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said nozzle comprises a rigid and elongated tubular element, in particular made of plastics.
34. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said first duct and said second duct are positioned side by side and extend substantially over the entire length of said nozzle, in particular parallel to a longitudinal axis of said nozzle.
35. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said first duct and said second duct are superimposed and substantially aligned to a longitudinal axis of said nozzle.
36. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said outflow opening is made in the proximity of said second end and said delivering opening is made in the proximity of said first end.
37. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said outflow opening and said delivering opening are made in the proximity of said first end.
38. Capsule according to claim 32, comprising a plurality of outflow openings that are made spaced apart from each other along said longitudinal side wall and connected to said first opening through said first duct, and a plurality of delivering openings that are made spaced apart from each other along said longitudinal side wall and connected to said second opening through said second duct.
39. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said side wall is compressible andor crushable along a direction that is transverse, in particular orthogonal, to said base wall in order to enable said final product to exit from said cavity and said nozzle to further exit from said cavity.
40. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said nozzle is inserted and sealingly slides with interference in said exit opening.
41. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said nozzle comprises an annular projection that is positioned adjacent to said delivering opening and is arranged for avoiding a compression andor a complete crushing of said casing and preventing a complete exit of said nozzle from said capsule.
42. Capsule according to claim 32, comprising a closing element removably fixed to a peripheral edge of said second end andor to an external surface of said base wall so as to hermetically close at least said second opening and said cavity.
43. Capsule according to claim 32, and wherein said covering element is perforable by said injecting arrangement of the brewing machine for enabling said injecting arrangement to engage said first opening of said nozzle.
44. Capsule according to claim 43, wherein said covering element is fixed by welding to said first end of said nozzle for creating a fluid seal between said covering element and said first end.
45. Capsule according to claim 42, and comprising a solid product contained in said second duct closed by said closing element and deliverable directly into said fruition container through said second opening before said delivering step.
46. Capsule according to claim 45, wherein said solid product is constituted of a single element having at least one dimension that is greater than, or the same as, a width of said delivering opening in such a manner that said delivering opening prevents said solid product from exiting said second duct towards said cavity.
47. Capsule according to claim 45, wherein said solid product is constituted of a plurality of elements each having at least one dimension that is greater than, or the same as, a width of said delivering opening in such a manner that said delivering opening prevents said solid product from exiting said second duct towards said cavity.
48. Capsule according to claim 47, wherein said elements are homogeneous elements, as for example sweeteners or cereals, or wherein said elements are non-homogeneous elements, as for example a mixture of sweeteners and cereals.
49. Capsule according to claim 32, and comprising an interaction member for interacting with said final product which is contained in said second duct for changing characteristics of said final product before delivering into said fruition container.
50. Capsule according to claim 49, wherein said interaction member comprises an element for creating a vortex flow andor a perforated element for making a filtering function or alternatively for reducing or eliminating possible froth present in the final product.
51. Capsule according to claim 50, wherein said element for creating a vortex flow comprises an elongated tubular shaped insert having a longitudinal side wall provided with a helicoidal projection extending longitudinally at least along a portion of said insert, in particular over the entire insert.
52. Capsule according to claim 51, wherein said capsule has an annular gap between a smooth wall of said second duct and said side wall of said insert provided with said projection, said annular gap having helicoidal channels for creating said vortex flow.
53. Capsule according to claim 42, wherein said closing element comprises a joining edge, said joining edge being fixed for a first part to said external surface of said base wall by a blocking seal and for a second part by a peelable seal, said blocking seal requiring greater force than said peelable seal to detach said joining seal from said base wall, so as to promote said detachment of said second part before said detachment of first part.
54. Capsule according to claim 53, wherein said first part extends in a first angular interval comprised between 80\xb0 and 110\xb0, in particular 100\xb0, and said second part extends in a second angular interval that is explementary to said first angular interval, said first part and said second part extending over the entire joining edge.
55. Capsule according to claim 53, wherein said second part comprises a detachment promoting arrangement comprising at least one detachment portion at which said second portion has a substantially \u201cV\u201d or wedge shape to facilitate a gradual and progressive separation of the joining edge from the base wall.
56. Capsule according to claim 55, wherein said first part is devoid of said detachment promoting arrangement.
57. Capsule according to claim 55, wherein said detachment promoting arrangement comprises a plurality of detachment portions that are angularly equidistant in said second part.
58. Capsule according to claim 52, wherein said closing element comprises an elongated tab extending outwards from a connecting portion of the joining edge that extends from said first part.
59. Capsule according to claim 32, wherein said second end of said nozzle has an external flange which peripherally surrounds said second opening and which in an initial configuration of said capsule, abuts against an external surface of said base wall.
60. Method for making a final product using in an automatic brewing machine a capsule according to claim 32, comprising the steps of:
introducing, in an injecting step, a fluid inside a cavity of said capsule through a first opening, a first duct and at least one outflow opening of a nozzle of said capsule so that said fluid and an initial product contained in said cavity interact for making a final product;
delivering said final product directly into a fruition container in a delivering step through at least one delivering opening, a second duct and a second opening of said nozzle, said delivering comprising continuing to introduce said fluid in said cavity andor progressively compressing and crushing a casing of said capsule so as to force said final product to exit by pressure from said cavity through said delivering opening, second duct and second opening.
61. Method according to claim 60, comprising, before said introducing said fluid, removing a closing element fixed to said capsule for hermetically closing a second opening of said nozzle, said removing in particular comprising partially compressing andor crushing said casing in order to force said nozzle to further exit from said cavity and remove said closing element.
62. Method for making a final product using in an automatic brewing machine a capsule according to claim 32, comprising the steps of:
compressing and crushing a casing of said capsule for compressing and compact an initial product, in particular coffee powder, contained therein;
introducing, in an injecting step, a fluid inside a cavity of said capsule through a first opening, a first duct and at least one outflow opening of a nozzle of said capsule so that said fluid and said initial product interact, in particular by percolation, for making a final product;
delivering said final product directly into a fruition container in a delivering step through at least one delivering opening, a second duct and a second opening of said nozzle, said delivering comprising continuing to introduce said fluid in said cavity so as to force said final product to exit by pressure from said cavity through said delivering opening, second duct and second opening.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for marketing products based on the intended use of said products, the method comprising classifying a plurality of products into a plurality of use groups based on the intended use of said products, then designating each of said use groups by one or more icons specific to each of said use groups, and displaying said products such that a consumer can select one or more products in each use group based on the one or more icons.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more icons designate said products using a combination of identifying features selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, color, texture, and a combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein each one of said one or more icons comprises a foreground and a background, wherein said foreground comprises text, and graphics corresponding to a particular use group, said foreground text and graphics being in one or more colors, and wherein said background comprises background graphics in one or more background colors, said one or more background colors differing from said one or more foreground colors.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein
a first icon represents a first use group, the text of said first icon foreground comprising \u201cSOF SOLE\u201d and \u201cCOMFORT\u201d;
a second icon represents a second use group, the text of said second icon foreground comprising \u201cSOF SOLE\u201d and \u201cPERFORMANCE\u201d; and
a third icon represents a third use group, the text of said third icon foreground comprising \u201cSOF SOLE\u201d and \u201cOUTDOOR\u201d.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first use group comprises \u201cComfort Cushion\u201d and \u201cComfort Light\u201d sub-groups, said second use group comprises \u201cPerformance Cushion\u201d and \u201cPerformance Light\u201d sub-groups, and said third use group comprises \u201cOutdoor Cushion\u201d and \u201cOutdoor Light\u201d sub-groups.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein said one or more background colors belonging to each of said first icon, second icon and third icon are different.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein said background graphics comprise a foot, a number, and at least one semi-circle in one or more colors, said at least one semi-circle providing the background for said foreground text.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said products comprise footwear-related products, said footwear-related products comprising socks, insoles, shoes, and shoe-care related products.
9. The method of claim 2 further comprising utilizing the packaging of said products to represent each of said use groups and distinguish each of said use groups from one another.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said packaging comprises product information, the icon specific to that product use group, packaging graphics, and a packaging background.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said displaying is performed using a point-of-sale display.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said point-of-sale display comprises a vertical member and a plurality of horizontal protrusions extending from said vertical member.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said vertical member comprises a wall, rod, or stand.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said horizontal protrusions comprises shelves, hooks, rods, hangers, Velcro, or tape.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying a main information guide to assist consumer selection of said consumer products wherein said main information guide comprises said one or more icons and printed information conveying the correspondence of said one or more icons to said respective use groups.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said main information guide is situated on or near said point-of-sale display.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said point-of-sale display comprises an electronic display.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said electronic display comprises a digital or computerized display, said digital or computerized display comprising a screen and a plurality of images arrayed on said screen displaying said products and said main information guide.
19. A method for marketing consumer footwear-related products based on the intended use of said products, the method comprising:
classifying a plurality of footwear-related products into a plurality of use groups based on the intended use of said products;
designating each of said use groups with one or more icons specific to each of said use groups;
labeling said footwear-related products with said one or more icons representing said use groups;
displaying said products at a point-of-sale display; and
displaying a main information guide that provides said one or more icons such that a consumer can select one or more products in each use group based on the one or more icons.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said main information guide is located proximally to said products.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein said products comprise socks, insoles, shoes, and shoe-care products.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein said use groups comprise \u201cComfort\u201d, \u201cPerformance\u201d and \u201cOutdoor\u201d, said use groups comprising \u201cComfort Cushion\u201d, \u201cComfort Light\u201d, \u201cPerformance Cushion\u201d, \u201cPerformance Light\u201d, \u201cOutdoor Cushion\u201d and \u201cOutdoor Light\u201d sub-groups.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein said one or more icons each comprise a foreground and a background, said foreground comprising foreground text and one or more graphics, and said background comprising background text and one or more graphics.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein said foreground text comprises \u201cSOF SOLE\u201d and the name of the use group for that product, and wherein said one or more background graphics comprises a foot, a number, and at least one semi-circle of one or more colors, said at least one semi-circle providing the background for said foreground text.
25. A system for selling consumer goods based on the intended use of said goods, the system comprising:
a plurality of use groups based on the intended use of said goods;
a display for said goods classified into said plurality of use groups;
at least one information guide depicting said use groups, wherein said use groups are represented by one or more icons specific to each of said use groups; and
product packaging information.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein said consumer goods are footwear-related products.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein said footwear-related products comprise socks, insoles, shoes, and shoe-care products.
28. The system of claim 25 wherein each one of said one or more icons designate said use groups using a combination of identifying features selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, color, texture, and a combination thereof.
29. The system of claim 28 wherein each one of said one or more icons comprises a foreground and a background, wherein said foreground comprises foreground text and graphics corresponding to a particular use group, said foreground text and graphics being in one or more foreground colors, and wherein said background comprises background graphics in one or more background colors, said one or more background colors differing from the one or more foreground colors.
30. The system of claim 25, wherein
a first icon represents a first use group, the text of said first icon foreground comprising \u201cComfort\u201d;
a second icon represents a second use group, the text of said second icon foreground comprising \u201cPerformance\u201d; and
a third icon represents a third use group, the text of said third icon foreground comprising \u201cOutdoor\u201d.
31. The system of claim 30 wherein said first use group comprises first sub-groups, said first sub-groups comprising \u201cComfort Cushion\u201d and \u201cComfort Light\u201d, said second use group comprises second sub-groups, said second sub-groups comprising \u201cPerformance Cushion\u201d and \u201cPerformance Light\u201d, and said third use group comprises third sub-groups, said third sub-groups comprising \u201cOutdoor Cushion\u201d and \u201cOutdoor Light\u201d.
32. The system of claim 30 wherein said at least one information guide comprises a main information guide located proximal to said goods and wherein said product packaging comprises one of said icons, product information, packaging graphics, and a packaging background color, said packaging background color being the same color as said one or more icon background colors.
33. The system of claim 25 wherein said display is a point-of-sale display, said point-of-sale display comprising a vertical member and a plurality of horizontal protrusions extending from said vertical member.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein said vertical member comprises a wall, rod, or stand.
35. The system of claim 33 wherein said horizontal protrusions comprises shelves, hooks, rods, hangers, Velcro, or tape.
36. The system of claim 33 wherein said point-of-sale display comprises an electronic display.
37. The system of claim 36 wherein said electronic display comprises a digital or computerized display, said digital or computerized display comprising a screen and a plurality of images arrayed on said screen displaying said products and said information guide.